Bamidbar(Numbers 1:1-4:20)

Keep Digging!

All their countings were six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. (Num. 1:46)

A man passed away and left over a will for his children. The will stated that in a certain town on a particular street he had left 10 million dollars buried there. The sons immediately gathered up the necessary equipment and set out for that town. After much effort they found the exact street and began digging. They dug and labored for several hours but they turned up empty handed. They continued digging for several days and all they found was a few hundred dollars. Their backs were aching and their hands were sore but they did not give up; they kept on digging. They were sure that all the money was there; it was just a matter of time until they would find it.

One may think, "Even if I toil and learn Torah sincerely I will never get anywhere. Studying Torah is just not my thing." But the truth is that there is a portion in the Torah that resonates with every person. It may be buried deep down but it's there. If you have not yet felt any connection with Torah it means that you haven't dug deep enough. You need to keep on digging! It is for this reason that this week's Torah portion is always read immediately prior to the holiday Shavuot. The portion mentions an accounting of the Jews to show us that each and every individual is significant and has a portion in Torah.

Each person has their own way of thinking and their own way of looking at things. There are so many paths and so many angles in Torah that there isn't a single portion in Torah that a person can't have a natural love for. God created the Torah for us to connect with him, so there must be parts and places in there where that connection will happen.

Regardless of what you are facing in live, or your age,health or your life situation. Studying the Torah will help in ways that you cannot possibly understand. Know that studying along or in a group makes no difference. G-D knows that you are studying and will help you ! Weather you study a lot or little G-d will know.

Submit Your Comment:

Name:*

Display my name?

YesNo

Email:*

Your email address is kept private. Our editor needs it in case we have a question about your comment.

About the Author

Originally from New York, Rabbi Eli Scheller has spent a significant amount of time in Israel, training as an outreach professional, lecturing and leading Shabbatons. Rabbi Eli’s keen understanding and appreciation of people, and penchant for music, led him to spearhead an organization of repute to inspire teens at risk. After earning his rabbinical ordination from Rav Yitzchak Berkovits, Rabbi Eli moved to Los Angeles, where he shared the melody of Torah-living with many students, Hollywood admirers and celebrities. His love for people infuses an unforgettable dimension into his encounters, which inspires men and women across the Jewish spectrum.

Currently, Rabbi Eli resides in Baltimore, with his wife, Chavie, and their three kids, where he teaches and inspires Jews through his program, J-BAL, a division of Etz Chaim.